Scots frustration as smacking ban falls

Children’s charities say they are disappointed at the withdrawal of a proposal to ban smacking children in Scotland.

Labour MSP Marlyn Glen had put forward an amendment to the Family Law (Scotland) Bill that would have prevented parents or guardians subjecting children to “physical punishment or other injurious or humiliating treatment”.

However, Glen was forced to withdraw the motion after it became clear that it carried little support, during the Scottish parliament’s justice committee’s debate on the bill.

Andrew Girvan, director of children’s services at NCH Scotland, said: “NCH Scotland is disappointed that this amendment was not considered by the committee.

“There is no place for violence in the relationships between parents and children.”

Douglas Hamilton, head of policy and research at Save the Children Scotland and a member of The Children Are Unbeatable Alliance, added: “This is not an issue that will go away: international human rights bodies will continue to criticise the UK for this until the law changes.”